Posted on 02/18/2015 6:43:45 AM PST by Kaslin
The graphic pictures of a Jordanian pilot being burned alive by militants from the Islamic State, or ISIS, were chilling and raised doubts about the humanity of the Islamic terrorists capable of such barbarism. This coupled with beheadings and crucifixions gives us a better understanding of the evil we, along with the rest of the world, are facing.
These terrorists have stated their intention to annihilate Israel and to destroy the American way of life, which they consider corrupt and evil. Undoubtedly, we in America have our faults like every other country inhabited by human beings, but it requires the suspension of knowledge of accurate American history to believe, as some do, that we are the source of much of the trouble in the world. Conditions in the world have improved more dramatically since the advent of the United States than at any other time in human history. Our innovation and compassion have provided one of the highest standards of living in the world while lifting conditions in many other nations.
Understanding that we are not evil makes it easier to identify evil elsewhere and to combat it effectively. When we accept the falsehood that everyone is equally bad, and, therefore, we have no right or obligation to interfere with atrocities occurring elsewhere in the world, we facilitate the development and growth of groups such as ISIS, which are not dissimilar to the adherents of Adolf Hitler, who also aspired to world domination. An objective analysis of American history will demonstrate that we were late in joining the efforts of others to combat evil during both World War I and World War II. Hopefully, we have learned from these mistakes that it is better to fight enemies while they are in their adolescent stages than to wait until they have fully matured and pose a much greater threat.
I certainly do not believe that we need to involve ourselves in every conflict on the planet, and I believe we involved ourselves in the Vietnam conflict without clear goals or strategies. Hopefully, we learned from that experience that it is neither wise nor correct to try to impose our way of life on others. I also believe that there were better ways to handle Saddam Hussein than a full-fledged military confrontation. Those better ways would have involved a plan for Iraqi leadership over the long term. These unfortunate experiences have made some gun-shy to the point that they probably would rather be invaded than adopt an offensive war posture.
This is a critical time in the history of the world, and we must clear our heads and think logically about the consequences of underestimating the threat posed by a host of Islamic terrorist groups. It is clear that they have a plan that they believe will yield a victory in their quest for world domination. Some in our country are arrogant enough to believe such a goal is preposterous. Others believe our time has come and gone and resistance is useless.
Both of these beliefs are absolutely wrong and do not take into account the strength and resolve inherent in the American character. The battle we are entering will be difficult and fraught with surprises, but as Winston Churchill said, "You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word. It is victory. Victory at all costs. Victory in spite of all terrors. Victory, however long and hard the road may be, for without victory, there is no survival."
Good job Doc C.
I disagree with the title. The enemy in many ways is us. Until we are able to combat the lunacy that pervades the halls of Washington DC such as ISIS needs jobs, we will never be able to combat the real terror. That of Islamo Fascism.
No the enemy isn’t us it is OBAMA and his band of murdering thugs.
There are enemies both foreign and domestic.
Western leadership response to these threats?
What's for lunch and is my latte hot?
Obama’s response?
Is the Kobe beef tender?
I disagree with classifying our opponents in WWI as evil. Certainly Nazi Germany was evil, but the Great War was more of a network of alliances in which everyone lost control. This is not just a quibble; it's important. When we encounter genuine evil, the word will have lost its power if it's abused. Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire of 1910-1920 were not evil, just countries that made bad decisions. Communism and communist governments were genuine evil, as were their national socialist cousins, today's socialist in our White House, and today's Islamic terrorists. The word "evil" should be reserved for the real thing.
Sort of along the lines voiced by our resident in chief isn't it?
The enemy is not islamic radicals, not islamic terrorist, not islamic moderates, the enemy is ISLAM and the enemy within is ISLAM, the head of the snake must be cut off and the head of the snake resides at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave... ISLAM is where all that is irredeemably evil resides, the head must be cut off and with the body cast into a fiery pit.
Go read the title again. Dr Ben Carson did not say the enemy is us
Bingo. As long as there is Islam there will be Islamic terrorism.
If the civilized world is to survive, it must recognize Islam for what it really is: It’s not a religion, form of government, or anything recognizable to the civilized mind. Islam is a disease, an incurable disease of the mind that is highly contagious among the feeble minded and is now spreading among the world’s feeble minded at an epidemic rate. As with any disease, one can’t reason with this disease, negotiate with it, or treat in any manner other than how one would treat any other incurable disease.
Past efforts to contain this disease have failed. Now, carriers of this Plague of Islam must be eradicated wherever they're found, for if they're not, this disease will eventually end not just Western Civilization, but it will undo over 5,000 years of human civilization.
Read The War That Ended Peace for a good history of what led up to World War I.
This puts the kibosh on those who say “Who are we to judge?”
There is good and there is evil. Isis is evil.
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